The World Gone Mad: Surviving Acts of Terrorism

Terrorism has become one of the most pressing concerns of our day. For over a century, some radical groups have used terrorist attacks to draw attention to their causes, using violence to get their voices heard. Although the purpose of these groups is to grab the attention of a government and force it to consider their demands for change, the people caught in the

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Overview

Terrorism has become one of the most pressing concerns of our day. For over a century, some radical groups have used terrorist attacks to draw attention to their causes, using violence to get their voices heard. Although the purpose of these groups is to grab the attention of a government and force it to consider their demands for change, the people caught in the middle of a terrorist attack usually know or care little about the political reasons behind the violence. In some parts of the world, terrorist attacks, such as bombings, are almost a way of life. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans became very concerned about terrorism as well. For those whose lives have been forever changed by terrorism-someone who has survived a suicide bombing in Israel or Palestine or someone who lived through the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, for example-the political reasons for the attack are secondary to the effects on their lives. Even if you never experience a terrorist attack, the stories of those who have and how they have coped afterward can teach you things about your own life and the things that you face everyday.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 7–10—Those Who Remain focuses on both individual and large-scale tragedies with the discussion of loss as a result of the plague, an airliner crash in Peru, a heart attack, and a coal-mining disaster in which 116 elementary school children in Aberfan, Wales, were smothered. Sanna briefly explains each incident, talks about elements of surviving, mentions Kübler-Ross's stages of grief in chart form, and gives examples of how the people touched by these tragedies learned to cope. Many photos appear throughout the book; 10 pertain to the children's cemetery in Aberfan. Other graphics include two-page landscape spreads meant as a form of inspiration. Each one is accompanied by a quote; however, why the authors of these particular quotes merit inclusion is a puzzle. The World Gone Mad begins with a short history of terrorism. A 30-page chapter on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict briefly covers how the nation of Israel was created, the displacement of the Palestinian people, and each side's perspectives on the never-ending violence. Almost half of this title is devoted to a discussion of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. There are many images, including pictures of history's tyrants like Robespierre, Stalin, and Mussolini as well as the ordinary people who have lived with terror every day. Both books include numerous highlights to explain concepts, political terms, or events. Many words are defined in marginal sidebars, which can become distracting. With much of this information available in other texts, neither of these volumes is an essential purchase.—Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY